The Chancellor sighed. What a relief. The Italian people had overran their president and ended the war--the Swedish and Brazilians still followed. However, he was still a bit concerned...
The bloackade was inappropriate and in violation of international law. The only nation who could legitimately blockade Greece was Spain; yet, Brazil and Sweden had taken it upon themselves to blockade the Strait of Gibraltar in flagrant disregard of both Greece and Spain's sovreignty.
M. Phillippe Henry was moving to the evasive side with the plebiscite in the Netherlands. Why shouldn't the Dutch people have the choice of joining their German cousins? It seemed completely reasonable to von Hindenburg, and according to his agents, a good deal of the Dutch people.
Not only that, but the French government was releasing propaganda that the Dutch only made up 46% of the population, while in fact it was closer to 65% (32% French and 3% were of other nationalities), according to the 1935 census. Not only that, but the province had been Dutch--only by synthesized emigration had it become even that 32% French.
As Hindenburg pondered the situation, he began to hear the cameras clicking in the press room. The German head General, Fredreich von Paten, was making a press release.
---
"The German people may breathe a sigh of relief tonight. The Italians have completely backed out of their attempts on Greek punishment. As both the Venice Pact and we have stated, there is no longer a need for war. I hope that answers your query, Fritz."
"General! General!"
"Yes, Marianne?"
"As you now know, the French president Phillippe Henry has refused to hold the plebiscite for the Dutch people after Chancellor von Hindenburg pushed for joining Germany as being an option in the polls. How does the government of the German republic respond, and what military options is the military considering?"
The general paused for a moment to think. "We in the military most certainly hope that blood will not flow between the civilized nations of France and Germany again. However, the French president's unsupported refusal of a plebiscite where the Dutch may join Germany does not leave us many options. The German government plans to push for this diplomatically as much as possible, and will have exhausted all other resources to allow the Dutch their choice before taking any sort of military action."
The Berlin Zeitung reporter who wrote the first article on the atrocities in the French Netherlands, Lügner Schändliche, was called on.
"Now that the Brazilians and Swedish are enforcing a blockade of Greece in the strait of Gibraltar, what actions are the government considering?"
"We feel that the blockade is uncalled for, especially with the fact that it was Italy and not Sweden nor Brazil that was effected by the so-called 'terrorist act'. As the Chancellor has already said, we believe these are 'quasi-democratic' nations serving their own imperialist interests and not actually acting to uproot 'terrorism' in Greece. We hope that these nations will reconsider and stop this escapade."
With that, the general had to end his press conference to meet with his staff. It was reported to be urgent.
---
To: President Phillippe Henry
From: Chancellor Paul von Hindenburg
Subj: Re: Netherlands
We are deeply saddened by the President's unwillingness to cooperate. It seems perfectly legitimate that the Dutch people should have their choice in creating their own nation or becoming a part of Germany.
We will suggest this: 1 or 2, stay with France; 3, join Germany; 4, 5, or 6 Holland becomes its own nation.
